Three classification criteria are used to form the categories of the classification structure:

the geographic proximity of countries

the similarity of countries in terms of social, cultural, economic and political characteristics

the desirability that groups of countries lie within a single geographic continent.

The classification has a three level hierarchical structure:

the third and most detailed level of the classification consists of 255 base or third level units (countries). Included in the third level units are four 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) categories, containing entities that are not listed separately in the classification

the second level of the classification comprises 27 minor groups, which are groups of geographically proximate countries

the first and most general level of the classification comprises nine major groups, which are formed by aggregating geographically proximate minor groups.

The code structure

One, two and four digit codes are assigned to the first, second and third level units of the classification respectively. The first digit identifies the major group in which each minor group or country is contained. The first two digits taken together identify the minor group in which each country is contained. The four digit codes represent each of the countries.

The following example demonstrates the code structure for the countries included within the Minor Group Southern Europe, which is one of the three minor groups of the Major Group Southern and Eastern Europe.

Any geographic area within the region described by a minor group, which is not separately identified in the classification, can be included in the residual or 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) category. These 'nec' categories have codes ending with the digits '99'.

An example of a 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) category and code is:

The SACC can be used to classify other variables such as, Country of Residence, Country of Future Residence, Country of Citizenship, Country of Embarkation, Country of Disembarkation and Country of Last Residence.

Coding procedures

All Country of Birth responses are coded to the SACC (cat. no. 1269.0) using the guidelines detailed in that publication. Responses are matched with entries in the SACC coding index to determine the correct classification code.

Coding indexes

The SACC coding index is a comprehensive list of the most probable responses to questions relating to countries and their correct classification codes. It enables responses to be coded accurately.